This resource was updated in preparation for veterinary review. It was originally published on June 4, 2018.
With proper care, turkeysUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated turkey breeds, not wild turkeys, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. have the opportunity to live long lives. While there is variation by breed, a domesticatedAdapted over time (as by selective breeding) from a wild or natural state to life in close association with and to the benefit of humans turkey’s lifespan can be 10 years or more. Unfortunately, large breed turkeys are prone to certain health challenges, which may result in shorter lifespans than their non-large breedA domesticated animal breed that has not been specifically engineered to grow as quickly as possible for the purpose of human consumption. In resources at The Open Sanctuary Project, "Heritage" breeds of turkeys, for instance, are "non-large breed", even if they are physically quite big. cousins. In addition to their breed, there are many other factors that affect an individual’s expected lifespan. Some are beyond a caregiver’s control, such as their genetics and health status upon arrival, but there are others that we do have control over, such as the nutrition and care they receive after rescue. In addition to having an impact on their life expectancy, these elements of care also affect their quality of life and can help them thrive in old age!
Health Care Considerations For Older Turkeys
Thoughtful observation, routine health checks, and regular veterinary care are imperative for all residents, but you may find that older residents benefit from more frequent assessment and closer observation than they did when they were younger. This can help you catch and respond to issues before they progress to more serious concerns. Some conditions, such as foot and mobility issues, tend to be quite common in older turkeys, though these are certainly not the only conditions that can affect older residents (and these conditions are not exclusive to older residents either). By keeping a closer eye on older residents, you’ll be better able to catch signs of new or worsening conditions as soon as possible!
Daily Observation And Routine Health Checks
During daily observation and routine health checks, you should watch closely for any signs of concern, but when it comes to older turkeys, there are a few areas that may warrant extra attention.
Watch For Signs Of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is common in elderly animals, and turkeys are no exception. While this condition can affect any turkeyUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated turkey breeds, not wild turkeys, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource., large breedDomesticated animal breeds that have been selectively bred by humans to grow as large as possible, as quickly as possible, to the detriment of their health. turkeys are at an increased risk and are also at risk of developing osteoarthritis at an earlier age due to the strain their bigger size puts on their joints. Additionally, individuals who have been detoed may also be at an increased risk because they are forced to bear weight unnaturally. It’s important to closely monitor older turkey residents for signs of osteoarthritis, which include an abnormal gaitA specific way of moving and the rhythmic patterns of hooves and legs. Gaits are natural (walking, trotting, galloping) or acquired meaning humans have had a hand in changing their gaits for "sport"., bearing weight unevenly when standing, lameness, using their wings for support, and reduced activity. You may also be able to hear or feel crepitus (grating or crunching) in the hock1: the tarsal joint or region in the hind limb of a digitigrade quadruped (such as the horse) corresponding to the human ankle but elevated and bending backward 2: a joint of a fowl's leg that corresponds to the hock of a quadruped (this can be more difficult to feel in the knee and hip). If you notice signs of osteoarthritis, be sure to work closely with your veterinarian–proper pain management is imperative for individuals with painful conditions, and we’ll talk more about this below. It’s important to note that turkeys can also develop septic arthritis (infectious arthritis), and large breed turkeys appear to be especially prone to this condition. An individual with septic arthritis would require the addition of an antimicrobial treatment, as prescribed by your veterinarian.
Arthritis can lead to secondary issues that you need to watch closely for so you can address them early on. Because it affects the way an individual bears weight, arthritic residents are at risk of developing bumblefoot, and residents who spend more time lying down are at an increased risk of developing pressure sores on their hocks and keel. These conditions are described below. Individuals with osteoarthritis or other mobility issues may use their wings to help support themselves while walking and standing, which can lead to battered wing feathers and abrasions to the skin. In addition to watching how they move, also pay close attention to their wing tips, looking for signs that they may be using their wings for support. If you notice this is an issue, environmental modifications can help protect wing tips from damage.
Closely Monitor Their Weight
We recommend regularly monitoring all of your turkey residents’ weight and body condition (at least at every health checkThe Open Sanctuary Project uses the term "health check" to describe health evaluations performed by caregivers who are not licensed veterinarians. While regular health checks are an important part of animal care, they are not meant to be a replacement for a physical exam performed by a licensed veterinarian.), but you may find that older individuals benefit from more frequent evaluation so that you can catch weight changes before they become drastic. Large breed turkeys are prone to obesity at any age, but older residents may be at an increased risk if they continue to eat at the same pace while lowering their general activity levels. Obesity can cause a host of health challenges and exacerbate existing conditions, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your residents’ weight and body condition and to find ways to help them maintain a healthy weight. This may include making changes to their diet (discussed more below), encouraging safe exercise, or working with your veterinarian to manage any pain that may be affecting their activity level.
While obesity is a common concern in large breed turkey residents, unexplained weight loss is also cause for concern. Unexplained weight loss could have a number of causes, including certain diseases, mobility issues, and/or unhealthy social dynamics. If you notice that a turkey resident has lost weight or muscle mass, be sure to have them evaluated by a veterinarian. In addition to a physical exam, diagnostics such as fecal testing to screen for internal parasites and blood work are recommended.
Keep A Close Eye On Their Feet
Bumblefoot is a common condition in turkeys, especially large breed turkeys, and is not unique to older birds. Because the prognosis is best in the very early stages before there is active infection, it’s important to closely monitor your residents’ feet for signs of this condition. We recommend paying close attention to all turkey residents, but older individuals with mobility issues need even closer attention because they are at an increased risk of developing bumblefoot. Individuals who favor one foot over the other due to pain or a mechanical leg issue may develop bumblefoot on their “good” side. Because this foot has to bear more weight, the skin can become damaged over time. Without proper interventions, bumblefoot can progress from a minor issue to something far more severe. Be sure to contact your veterinarian if you observe signs of bumblefoot. You can read more about the stages of bumblefoot here.
Residents who bear weight unevenly or who are less active than they previously were may need some or all of their nails trimmed more often than they previously did. If you find that an individual’s nails are becoming too overgrown between regularly scheduled nail trims, you’ll need to put them on their own schedule.
Watch For Developing Pressure Sores
Older individuals who are less active and spend more time lying down than they previously did are at risk of developing pressure sores on their hocks and along their keel. Because of their bigger size, large breed turkeys (especially those who are overweight) are at an increased risk (though individuals who are emaciated are also at risk of developing a pressure sore on their keel, especially if the substrate they are lying on is not adequately cushioned). Pressure sores can become more difficult to manage if not addressed early on, so it’s a good idea to pay close attention to their hocks and keel, checking for changes to the appearance of the skin or the development of scabs or open sores. Keep in mind that keel sores may not be visible without parting an individual’s feathers. We’ll discuss environmental changes that can help prevent the development of pressure sores in the living space section below.
Veterinary Care
We recommend asking your veterinarian how frequently they think your older turkey residents should be seen (ideally, at least twice a year). Individuals with ongoing issues that require monitoring may need to be seen more often than those without health issues, but even for apparently healthy individuals, more frequent vet visits may be in order (plus diagnostics to screen for disease, as recommended by your veterinarian).
Pain Management For Individuals With Arthritis
As explained above, osteoarthritis is one of the most common health concerns in older animals, and turkeys are no exception. Without pain management, osteoarthritis can cause chronic pain (ranging in severity from mild to debilitating) and can affect an individual’s activity level and quality of life. Severe pain can result in a general reluctance or even the inability to walk (putting them at risk of developing pressure sores). While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, and it is a progressive condition (meaning it worsens over time), there are medications that can help alleviate an individual’s pain. If one of your residents is showing signs of lameness, pain, and/or decreased activity, be sure to work with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat the issue.
While there are currently no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) approved for use in turkeys, your veterinarian may prescribe extra-labelExtra-label use means that a drug is used in a way other than what is described on the label or package insert. If a drug is used in a different species than what it has been approved for, this is extra-label use. Other examples include using a drug to treat a different condition than it is approved for or administering it in a different way than the directions describe. Extra-label drug use can only occur within the confines of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. use of an NSAID such as meloxicam or carprofen. NSAID treatment should never be combined with other NSAIDs, and in some individuals, NSAID use may be contraindicated (not advised). If your veterinarian determines that NSAIDs are not appropriate for an individual in need of pain relief, they may prescribe other analgesics such as tramadol (a controlled opioid) and/or gabapentin instead. These medications may also be recommended in addition to an NSAID if the NSAID alone is not sufficient to control their pain. Be aware that commercially available gabapentin oral solutions contain xylitol and should not be used in birds.
Anecdotally, adjunctive therapies such as cold laser therapy and acupuncture, as well as the use of a chondroprotective agent such as Adequan, have helped keep arthritic avian residents comfortable. Some sanctuaries have also seen some success by combining conventional medications with more natural remedies such as Boswellia serrata (also known as Indian Frankincense), capsicum, turmeric, and/or CBDA non-hallucinogenic substance from the hemp plant. Some claim that it can help manage pain and certain health conditions in animals, though there is little research in this field. Because CBD is not highly regulated, it can be difficult to ascertain exactly how pure any CBD oil or supplement may actually be. Some suggest that CBD oil, if ingested by ruminants, can cause harm to rumens. oil. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the most appropriate pain management regimen for each of your residents. While you may be able to obtain supplements without a veterinarian’s prescription, it is imperative that you consult with your veterinarian before starting any supplements. Some supplements may have adverse effects on individuals or negatively interact with their current medications. Your veterinarian can determine what is most appropriate based on various factors, including the individual’s specific needs, any concurrent treatments, and the latest scientific evidence available regarding the treatment.
In addition to talking to your veterinarian about the most appropriate pain management regimen for each of your residents, be sure to ask them about conducting blood work before certain treatments (such as NSAID treatment) to ensure the treatment is not contraindicated and to establish a baseline against which future blood work results can be compared. We also recommend asking them about conducting regular blood work for individuals on certain long-term treatments (including NSAID treatment) to monitor organ function and watch for adverse effects.
Individuals with osteoarthritis may also benefit from environmental modifications, as described later on in this resource. Ongoing assessment of arthritic residents is imperative. As the condition progresses, you may find that their pain management plan needs to be re-evaluated, and you’ll want to have ongoing discussions about their quality of life (with other caregivers as well as with your veterinarian). As mentioned above, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for signs of secondary issues, such as bumblefoot and pressure sores.
Living Space Considerations For Older Turkeys
While some older turkey residents may continue to do well without any changes to their living spaces, others may require certain modifications to help keep them safe and comfortable.
Indoor Living Space Considerations For Older Turkeys
It’s important to monitor an older resident’s indoor living space to ensure it continues to keep them comfortable and is free from any hazards that could cause injury. Be sure to consider the following when evaluating an older turkey resident’s indoor living space.
Flooring
Flooring for all turkeys should provide adequate traction and, particularly for large breed turkeys, should also provide some cushioning for their feet and joints. Some older turkeys may require flooring that provides even more traction and more cushioning than they previously did. Depending on the type of flooring present in their indoor space, you may find that covering the floor with thick textured floor mats (such as interlocking foam floor mats) or adding a deep layer of dirt or sand* can help provide residents enough traction to walk without slipping.
The addition of textured floor mats, dirt, or sand can also add a bit more cushioning for feet and joints, though to different degrees. Packed dirt can become very hard over time, providing less cushion than sand or more loosely packed dirt. Floor mats come in many varieties with differing thicknesses and provide different degrees of cushioning. Individuals with painful mobility issues or who spend more time lying down may benefit from thicker, softer mats to provide more cushioning to their feet and joints and to help prevent pressure sores if they are spending more time lying down. While the additional cushioning can be helpful, you must make sure it does not impede their ability to walk. A pillowy floor mat may be wonderful to lie down on, but walking across a substrate with that much give might be a challenge. Therefore, you may opt to add a certain amount of cushioning to the entire space, plus extra cushioning in the area in which the individual typically sleeps or relaxes during the day.
The substrate your turkey residents walk on should be relatively flat and even. Be sure to watch for and quickly address any unevenness and trip hazards. Dirt floors are prone to developing divots over time, and these divots can result in injury. Similarly, floor mats that do not lie flat against the floor can cause a resident to trip. Doorways/thresholds are a common trip hazard, which we will discuss more below.
Bedding
Just as previously suitable flooring may need modifications to ensure older residents have ample traction and cushion, you may also need to make changes to the type and/or amount of bedding used in their living space for similar reasons. Individuals who are less active and spend more time lying down may require extra bedding material to prevent pressure sores from developing on their hocks and keel (or to prevent sores that have developed from getting worse).
While straw is a common bedding option, there are numerous reasons why some folks choose not to use it for their bird residents, regardless of their age (one reason being the increased risk of aspergillosis, and another being that it may not be as absorbent as other bedding options and can contribute to infections associated with bumblefoot). Even if you decide that straw is an appropriate option for your turkey residents, generally, you may find that it is not the best option for older residents. A thick layer of straw can be more difficult to walk through than some other bedding options, such as hemp bedding, pine, or aspen wood shavings. Older residents may not pick their feet up as much when they walk and can become tangled in long-fibered straw, making it even more difficult for them to walk. Switching to a short-fibered straw or a different type of bedding can help prevent this issue.
Doorways
Another element of the living space that warrants a closer look is doorways and thresholds. Even a slightly raised threshold could pose a tripping hazard or could injure a resident who doesn’t fully pick up their feet. This can prove even more dangerous if there is also a drop down on one side of the threshold (such as in an elevated doorway that leads to the outdoors). Whenever possible, avoid raised thresholds. If this is not possible, make sure the threshold has the lowest profile possible and that it is free of sharp or rough edges that may cause damage to the feet.
Similarly, avoid layouts where residents need to jump up or down to move between their indoor and outdoor spaces. While a wide, gently-sloped ramp may work fine for other turkey residents, older residents may struggle to navigate even a slight grade, and, depending on the material the ramp is made of, there may be traction issues or risk of damage to their feet. While it’s important to avoid a negative slope around resident housing in order to keep spaces dry, you also want to make sure your residents are able to move between their indoor and outdoor spaces with ease. It’s best to keep entrances as close to ground level as possible. To make it easier for residents to come and go, consider building up the earth around the entryway to create a wide, gentle slope. If you must provide a ramp, keep it very gently inclined and ensure it is wide enough to prevent residents from falling or jumping off, and that it provides enough traction to avoid slips and falls.
Also consider the width of doorways, especially if there is a step up or down on either side. Residents may use their wings to help them maintain their balance while moving through these spaces, and in a narrow doorway, they may hit their wing against the door frame.
Roosts
Just as other elements of the living space may need to be modified as a turkey resident ages, so too might the roosting opportunities you provide. If you have turkey residents who perch on rod-style perches (this would typically apply more to non-large breed turkeys than large breed turkeys), you may find that as they age, they have difficulty gripping and balancing on these perches. In some cases, wrapping the perch with a material that can provide better grip can help (for example, covering the perch with self-adhesive cohesive bandage wrap or artificial turf to help provide some cushioning), but in other cases, you may need to change to a different kind of perch, such as a wide, flat board or a sturdy platform. Platform-style roosts may need a thicker layer of bedding to help protect against pressure sores.
While turkeys instinctually want to sleep up off the ground, it’s best to keep the elevated areas where turkeys sleep low to avoid them injuring themselves when they hop down in the morning. Depending on the height of the roosts provided, you may find you need to lower them. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the area when residents hop down from their perches/roosts. Even if they are only slightly raised, you want to make sure the area they hop down to will provide appropriate traction and cushion to avoid injury. You may need to provide extra bedding or more cushioned substrates in this area.
Temperature Considerations
While it’s important to provide safe heating and cooling as necessary for all turkey residents, you may find that as individuals age, the temperature range they can tolerate narrows. Be sure to closely observe older residents for signs they are too hot (open-mouth breathing and holding their wings away from their body) or too cold (puffed-up feathers or shivering) and take steps to keep them comfortable. You’ll also need to take preventative measures to keep them safe and comfy when extreme temperatures are in the forecast. Large breed turkeys are especially prone to heat stress and heat-related illness, so it’s crucial to keep them cool when the weather is warm and humid.
Outdoor Living Space Considerations For Older Turkeys
As turkeys age, their activity level may decrease, especially if they have arthritis or another health condition that affects their mobility or stamina. Depending on the type of outdoor space they have access to, certain modifications may be in order. Just as their indoor space should be easy to navigate with flat terrain, so too should their outdoor space. Rocky or hilly terrain could be difficult for them to navigate. While you don’t necessarily need to move older residents into smaller outdoor spaces (though some may benefit from this), it’s a good idea to keep important resources within a close distance so that they do not have to travel far if they don’t want to or are unable to. Food and drinking water should absolutely be placed in areas where they can easily access them without having to travel too far or navigate difficult terrain, and they should also have easy access to a variety of spaces, such as a nice place to sunbathe, dustbathe, nap, forage, etc. Speaking of dust bathing, if your residents have access to a man-made dust bath, make sure they can get in and out with ease. You may find you need to provide a dust bath with lower sides or that you need to sink it into the ground a bit to make it easier for older residents to access.
Diet Considerations For Older Turkeys
Providing your turkey residents with a healthy diet is important at every stage of their lives, including in old age. Some individuals may continue to thrive on the standard diet you provide to other mature turkey residents (remember, turkey poults have different nutritional requirements), but others may need modifications made to their diet or to the way their food is provided. If your female residents are typically fed a diet higher in calcium to support the demands of egg-laying, keep in mind that this is more calcium than they require after they have stopped laying eggs. Additionally, individuals with certain health issues may require specific modifications as recommended by your veterinarian.
Since osteoarthritis is a common issue in older residents, some sanctuaries give them supplements, such as turmeric or omega-3 fatty acids, that are thought to help reduce inflammation even if residents are not currently showing signs of arthritis. If this is something you’re interested in doing, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian for guidance.
In this section, we’ll be focusing on some basic modifications that may be beneficial for some older residents, but please keep in mind that you should always consult with your veterinarian when considering diet changes. The following recommendations are not universally necessary for all elderly individuals and, in most cases, are just one part of a more comprehensive response plan.
Avoid Unhealthy Weight Gain
As mentioned above, it’s important to monitor your residents’ weights to ensure they remain at a healthy weight and so you can take action if they are not. If an older resident starts to become overweight, you’ll want to make changes to their diet to encourage healthy weight loss. It’s important to work with your veterinarian or an avian nutritionist when making changes to a resident’s diet. In some cases, they may recommend switching to a commercial food formula that is lower in protein. You may also need to adjust portion sizes. For large breed turkeys who are on measured portions, talk to your veterinarian about slowly reducing the amount of commercial food provided (and consider adding or increasing the amount of healthy leafy greens they receive to help keep them satiated). For non-large breed residents who are free-fed, talk to your veterinarian about offering measured portions instead of free-choice access (and again, consider adding or increasing the amount of healthy leafy greens provided). If inactivity due to a health issue is a contributing factor, be sure to work with your veterinarian to treat or manage the condition. As mentioned above, painful conditions, such as arthritis, require appropriate pain management as recommended by your veterinarian.
Avoid Unhealthy Weight Loss
Just as unhealthy weight gain is an issue, so too is unhealthy weight loss. By unhealthy weight loss, we mean weight loss that is unexplained, rapid, and/or results in an unhealthy body condition. This is different from weight loss resulting from thoughtful changes to their diet or general care done with the intention of encouraging healthy weight loss. If you find a resident is losing weight unexpectedly or becoming too thin, be sure to consult with your veterinarian to determine if an underlying health issue is the cause. You should also closely observe the individual when they are fed to see if unhealthy social dynamics or an issue with the way their food is provided are interfering with their ability or willingness to eat. We’ll discuss both these issues in greater detail below. In some cases, it may be helpful to separate the individual to eat at least once so you can determine exactly how much they are eating. Separating the individual also allows you to experiment with how their food is provided and to see what works best for them, as described below.
Depending on the underlying cause of the weight loss (if you can determine this through observation, veterinary assessment, and/or diagnostics), your veterinarian may recommend providing a different food formula or, in the case of residents who are provided measured portions, increasing their portion size and/or increasing the frequency of meals. They may also recommend incorporating other foods or supplements into their diet.
If you find an individual is not eating their full portion, in addition to working with your veterinarian to determine the cause, it’s worth experimenting with certain modifications. For example, if they are provided dry pellets, see how they do with soaked pellets. If they aren’t doing well with an oatmeal-like consistency of soaked pellets, see if they like it a bit soupier. If someone needs some encouragement to eat, try mixing in something tasty like unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin, fruit puree, or something similar. These additions can help make their commercial complete diet food more appealing for some individuals. Be aware that additions that can be easily picked out (such as seeds or cut-up pieces of fruit) don’t always have the same effect because the individual may only eat those additions and not their commercial food (which has important nutrients they require).
Pay Attention To How Social Dynamics Factor In
As individuals age, social dynamics sometimes change, and their place in the pecking order may fall. While you should always pay close attention to social dynamics and make adjustments as needed, be sure to pay extra attention to social dynamics when food is involved. If older residents are getting crowded out or bullied by flock mates, they may not get their fair share of food and could start losing weight. This can be an issue for any turkey resident, but can be especially problematic for large breed turkeys who are fed measured portions. In situations where residents are free fed, a resident who is leery of others, slow to get moving in the morning, or wants to avoid the initial rush of mealtime for whatever reason can potentially wait until after others have eaten to take their turn. Unfortunately, in situations where residents are fed measured portions, waiting is not really an option because more often than not, someone else will eat their portion.
Whether individuals are free fed or fed measured portions, sometimes offering additional food dishes and spreading them out a bit (ensuring food is available near the area the individual spends most of their time) is enough to allow them to eat comfortably. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, separating the individual to eat may be necessary. For large breed turkeys who are fed measured portions, you can simply separate the individual during meals. If you can’t fully separate them and ensure no one else can get to their food, then you’ll want to stay with them during meals to ensure they finish their portion and that no one steals their food. In some cases, separating them with their standard portion, but ensuring they can eat it all without someone taking it, is enough to help them maintain (or return to) a healthy weight. Other times, they may need to receive an increased portion size, a different food formula, or other modifications as described above.
A similar technique can be applied to individuals who are free-fed. When food is first put down in the morning, you might separate the individual (and perhaps their closest companion) so that they can have easy access to food with minimal to no competition while the rest of the flock eats in a different part of the living space. If necessary, you could also schedule a few other times during the day to separate them with food to ensure they have plenty of time to eat undisturbed. As with large breed turkeys, you may find that providing the same diet as the rest of the flock, but making sure they have easier access to it, is enough, but other times, you may need to provide them with a different food formula or include supplemental food as recommended by your veterinarian.
Experiment With Different Food Dishes And Setups
When feeding older residents, sometimes it’s less about what you are feeding them and more about how the food is provided. This is especially true for individuals with mobility issues, such as those caused by osteoarthritis or an injury, who might be reluctant (or even unable) to eat from food dishes they previously accessed with ease. Appropriate pain management (as described above) is key, but residents may also benefit from certain modifications to how the food is provided. What works best will be unique for everyone, so it’s helpful to experiment and observe how they respond to each setup. For example, if they are currently fed out of a metal trough, try offering a dish (wide, shallow bowls are typically best). If their food dish is usually placed on the ground, try elevating it so they don’t have to bend down as much to eat (and experiment with different heights to see what is most comfortable for them). When elevating food dishes, be sure to create setups that keep the dish in place to avoid spills.
Social Considerations For Turkeys
Turkeys are social animals who form strong bonds with their flock mates. However, as turkey residents age, you may find that social groupings that previously worked no longer do. If one of your older residents is getting bullied or requires modifications that cannot be accommodated in their current living situation, you may need to consider separating them from their flock. This should be done with great care–isolationIn medical and health-related circumstances, isolation represents the act or policy of separating an individual with a contagious health condition from other residents in order to prevent the spread of disease. In non-medical circumstances, isolation represents the act of preventing an individual from being near their companions due to forced separation. Forcibly isolating an individual to live alone and apart from their companions can result in boredom, loneliness, anxiety, and distress. from their companions can cause turkeys of all ages significant distress. If you need to separate one of your older turkey residents from a larger flock, you’ll want to ensure that they can live with at least one of their companions (ideally, their closest companion). After separating individuals, be sure to watch for signs of distress, which may indicate that you have inadvertently separated individuals who are strongly bonded.
In addition to considering social bonds, you’ll also want to keep safety in mind, particularly in all-male groupings or, in the case of non-large breed turkeys, mixed-sex flocks. While overmounting is an issue regardless of an individual’s age, older females with mobility issues could be injured by what would otherwise be considered “normal” mounting behavior. Like large breed turkey hens, they may need to live away from males to ensure their well-being. Similarly, you’ll want to watch that older males are not getting bullied by other males, particularly during the spring when hormonal changes may lead to more altercations.
While it may seem like a lot of additional considerations, it’s important to be aware of how an older turkey resident’s needs may change as they age and ways in which you can meet those needs. A little extra consideration can go a long way in keeping older residents comfortable and content despite some of the challenges that can come with old age!
SOURCES:
Pain Management In The Avian Patient | Improve Veterinary Practice
Pain Management For The Avian Patient | Thomas N. Tully, Jr., DVM, MS, DABVP (Avian), DECZM (Avian)
